Northern Ireland is set for a major jobs boost as BT today announced it is to create 78 new jobs over the next six months.

The positions will be in a variety of areas including software development, IT, engineering, sales and service, security and digital technology.

The majority will be based in BT Flex, BT’s contact centre operation in Riverside Tower in Belfast and will comprise 50 full, part-time and apprenticeship positions in the areas of customer service and sales.

The additional 28 positions will be a combination of apprenticeship and graduate roles, split between BT’s technology service & operations division and BT’s commercial networks team in Belfast.

A number of the new apprentices will also begin degree apprenticeships allowing them to obtain a full Honours degree qualification while working.

Careers ranging from business analysis to software development and technology consultancy will be available at BT as part of the new Government and industry-backed scheme, which integrates degree level academic learning with practical on-the-job training.

In addition BT is also offering industrial work experience for third level students with ten 48-week placements to begin in September 2015 at BT’s Global Development Centre in Belfast.

Welcoming the announcement, DETI Minister, Arlene Foster said: “BT is an established investor and major employer in Northern Ireland. This latest expansion is a welcome boost for our Business Services sector which is a key driver of economic growth. BT’s commitment to developing new talent demonstrates the company’s confidence in our skills base. This recruitment campaign will provide valuable career and training opportunities to local people within the dynamic, growing telecommunications sector.”

Colm O’Neill, chief executive, BT in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, said: “At BT, we firmly believe that Northern Ireland’s future economic success hinges on more young people following careers in science, engineering and IT. Our latest recruitment supports this belief and further emphasises our commitment to supporting the growth of the ICT sector by creating opportunities for people to get the skills, support and training they need to carve out successful careers in Northern Ireland.

“We look forward to welcoming our new recruits, who are joining BT at a very exciting time. They will have the opportunity to work in fields such as technology research, customer service, engineering, IT and TV, helping to create and build the next generation of communications technology.”

The 78 jobs announced today are in addition to the 250 roles created by BT in Northern Ireland over the past year.